Elevator door



July 24, 1928,

C. W. PEELLE ELEVATOR DOOR Filed June 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Maw L INVENTOR July 24, 1928.

C. w. PEELLE ELEVATOR noon Filed June 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Shee't R M 1NVENTOR i as Patented July 24, 1928.

UNI-TED STATES;

,PYATENT OFFICE.

"*GHKRLES' w. rnnnnn, on NEW Yonx, N. Y., nssi'en'on TO r m rnnnrn oomPAN-Y, or

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A oonronnrron on NEW YORK.

ELEVATOR DOOR:

I Application filed June 22,1926. Serial No. 117,748;

M y invention relates to elevator, doors, and more particularly to vertically slidable doorsadapted particularly toruse in closing the openings in the elevator shafts of Warehouses-or likebuildings and forminga protection against the spreading of tire through theelevator shafts-from one floor of abuilding to another floor thereof. y

Doors oi the general type to which my invention relates-have been extensively used for many years. suclildoors heretofore have included therein an angle metalframe, the panel. opening in Which has been closed either by means ofa corrugated metal panel or panels, in the earlier development of the art, or by a metal sheathed Wooden panel" or panels in the later d e yelopment of the art,; although at the present time corrugated metalpaneldoorsare extensively used; v

As distinguished" from the corrugated metal, or the-metal sheathed wooden, panel doors, the door of my' present invention is All struction and arrangement of which being, such as to ailord a-i'lg d door structure throughout. under normal condltions of'use While avoiding the jamming of the doors through the buckling or other distortiongof the frame and panelwhen subjected coin-- tense heat. Hereto fore, metal plate doorsv have not been usedin the structureof elevator doors because of the lack of flexibility in such plates, a1'id the difiiculties of mounting same in the door frames toavoid distortion of the frame of the door bythe expansion ot the metal plate'panelsinthe event of fire,;

with the consequent jamming of the door and hindrance to the firemenin the event that access to any floor ot a budding- 1s 4 yield: inn manner to compensate for eXpansion from heat. s VVitjh the metal sheathed Wooden panel door there is-no appreciable expansion) from heat.

I an elevator door embodying my 1nvention,.the frame of theidoor is soeonstructed,

and the metal. plate panels areso-mounted" therein. as to-produce a firmrigid structure 1n the door durlng'nomnal conditions otuse,

notwithstanding the; severe useto which a sought during or following a fire. This cond ition s not present 1n corrugated metal" these doors are subjectedl while in the event of aifiir e developing temperatures sufiiciently great to cause abnormal expansion of the metal plate panels, to free the panels ina.

manner to permit expansion thereof Without distortion of the door frames. The use of the metal plate panels and the manner 0t mounting same, permits all of the securing. bolts to be contained between the" opposite vertical-planes of the door so as to present no projections into the sl1aftlThisJ fording the necessary reinforcement at this point Without interfering with those fea turesof the door permitting free expansion I I of the panels in the event of fire. provided with plated metal panels, the coni Inconjunction with 1 the other characteris mechanism-operative upon the upper section of the door to prevent the dropping of this" top section in the event of the breakage of the suspension chains from any reason whatever, the-trucking'harof the door having the same efiectwithrelation to 'the lower section. The efiective stopping of the door seotions 35 in the event of breakage of the chains, is

desirable, and While devices for securing this effect have long: been used, my invention however, relates more particularly to a special construction of stop which inc-ilk ,tates the assembling: of the rail structurein s its entirety in the shop,- and avoids the necessity for work by the erectors in thebuildingshaft in locating and securing such: stops during the installation of a series of elevator doors This construction also} avoidsthe use of extra'parts in the door and possesses great permanency,; strengthand" rigidity.

The invention consists in the novelties of construction an d combination of parts here inafter set forth and described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to-the drawings, Fig. 1- 1s acondensed 'vlew, in elevation; of a door embodying my: inventlonyy Fig. 2 is a section also condensed on the" line 22 of Fig. 1 but upon an enlarged scale; f

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a fragmentary in the drawings, it is illustrated in con nection with a well known type of counter balanced elevator door having two vertically opposite and movable sections having movement in the same vertical plane. The upper section is indicated at 10, the lower section at 11, and the chains connecting these sections so as to ensure simultaneous movementthereof in opposite directions and'jthe counterbalancing eflect of each section by the other, at 12. The pulleys over which the chains 12 pass areindicated at 13, one I end of said chains being connected with the lower part of the upper door section 10 and the other end to a hanger bar forming a part of the top bar structure of the lower section 11. I

The door sections are guided in their movements by means of shoes 14: secured to the side bars of the frames of the door sections lO'and 11 respectively, and straddling a guide rail 15 one flange of which. co-operates with the shoes 14 and the other flange of which is secured to what is known as a wall angle 16 firmly secured to the wall of the building structure. The' shoes, guide rails and wall angles are duplicated upon opposite sides of the door structure and of the door openings in the shaft. A .part of the side bar of each door section shown at 17 consists of a vertically extending angle bar, one flange of which is secured to one flange of the angle metal stock of the frame "of the door section, and theother "flange of which extends parallel with and'closely adjacent the wall of the shaft to forma more eflective barrier atthis point against the passage of flame and smoke, this part of the door structure being known as a flame angle.

The flame angle imparts rigidityto the side bars of the door section and also reinforces the guide shoes 14.

The sections 10 and 11 each have an angle" metal frame 18, one flange of which extends parallel with the wall of the shaft, and the other flange 20 of which extends in wardly of the shaft. mensions of the angle bar frame willvary with the size of the door, or the conditions of use, doors of twelve to twenty-five feet requiring'much heavier stock than smaller doors. I

The weight and di The'details of constructionheretofore referred to are all old and well known in this art, my invention relating to variations from the usual details of this structure permitting the utilization of metal plate panels, and the support and, reinforcement of these panels in a manner to permit free expansion thereof in the event of fire without distortion of the frame, to avoid looscncss between the panel and the frame under normal working conditions, and to reinforce the panelstructure in a IDELDDGLTIO" resist the violent impact of heavy bodies therewith.

The construction of each of the sections i 10,and 11, so far as the mounting of the panels therein is concerned, is identical one with the other, and only one of these sections will therefore be described, similar reference numeralsbeing applied to, the corresponding parts in the other section.

Extending" between the upper and lower bars of the frame of the door sections,at

spaced intervals, and extending from one flange of these bars to the flange 19 of the other, is a Tam 21, the foot 22 of the T' projecting between" the flanges 20 of said upper'and lower bars, and having ts opposlte' ends extended beyond the head and turned as shown in Fig. '3 to form sections 23 bearingagainst said flanges respectively and secured thereto in any desired manner as by means of rivets '24 as shown. The

head of the 'T-bar2 1 is thus contained substantially in thesame vertical plane a'sthe flanges '19. These 'T-bars impart great rigidity to theframe of the. section and di vide the space within the frame into a plu ralityof'parts each adapted to receive a panel; l

Within the space formed by parts of the frame of the door and the T bars 21, are

mounted flat'metal plate panels-25, secured about the edgesYthere'of to the flanges 19 of the metal frame 18 by means of bolts 26, the heads of which are countersunk in said flanges 19 and the head of the T bar 21 and the nuts 27 co-opera-ting therewith, which serve to hold said plate firmly in position with relation to said frame and said T-bar; $aid' bolts 26 pass through openings 28 in the plate 25 of relatively greater dimensions than the bolts, thus affording clearance for gh'e expansion "of the plates in the event of re. "In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, I secure rigidity of the plate 25 by providing a fusible sleeve 29' filling each opening 28 and having an openin therethrongh for the passage of the bolt 26; i

In this form of the invention, each nut 27 bears directly upon the face of the plate 25 andserves to frictionally holdfsam e in position. This frictional engagement, while suflicient to prevent rattling of the panel plate under normal conditions of use, is

I the sleeve 29.

The dimensions of the, plate 25- are such;

insufl'icient to resist expansion of: the metal;

oi the plate in theeventof the fusing of as to space the edges: thereof away from; the

flanges 20 of the side frame and the foot of,

the 'T-bar,-a-distance in excess ofthe maximum expansion of the platea.when heated.

In the embodiment of the invention: shownin Fig. 5, instead of using aisleeve 29, I entploy meansafor holding the plate in relation to the bolts consisting of an inflame mable washer 30 pressed firmly into enga ment with the plate by the nut 27, this washer being of a size to close the enlarged opening 28 in the plates The effectof' the sleeve 29uand the washer 30 is: the same in the respect that the application of excessive. heat thereto will result in the breaking dowlr of the/support between theboltsi and. the

plate to an extent to permit the free ex.

pansion of the latter. By the construction above described, the

panels 25 and the bolts 26*: and nuts 27" scouring same in position,-are all located within the flanges 20 of the door frame, the plates: 25 being approximately three-sisteenths of an inch in thickness not only for the purpose ofimparting rigidity to the door structure,: but to have said plates themselves of suifi-- cient strength to resist violent blows there-' on from loaded trucks. Such plates will also withstand efforts to gain access to or from a loft way of the elevator shaft. The

- flanges 20 themselves will be from two and one-half to three inches in depth, thus afford-- ing ample space within which the plates 25 and nuts 27 may be contained; This con-. struction brings all of the partsofthefdoor o the;

structure within the vertical plane edges of the flanges 2Q;

While the angle metal of tlie frame 18, particularly when reinforced by the T-bars 21, will possess considerable. strength, to per 1 mit the use of the so-called truckable feature in these doors,it is essential to provide a reinforcement or truck bar in the upper bar of the lo-wer'door section and to so mount it in relation to the angle metal of this top bar as to secure the desired rigidity therein.

In the, form of the invention shown, the

truck bar consists of an ordinary angle/bar 31, the horizontal flange of which fits snugly below the flange 20 of the top bar of the" lower door section 11, and thevertical flange of which extends laterally beyondthe horizontal flange and across the flanges: 19' of the side bars of the sectionll to an extent to constitute a hanger bar to which the shackles connected with the chains 12* are connected. The projecting ends of the bar 31 extend across the guide rail andthewall angle 16 closely adjacent the inner edges of these railsso" as tobe engagedby" the: usualadjustable step 357.. Thisbar 31E is secured" to thev ftange 19 of; the top bar of the door" section 11 by means of. bolts or rivets 32 passing through fiange19, and through spacers 33 bGtWGGH said flange 19 and the vertical flange of the bar 31, these boltsdrawi'ng the flanges: 19 and the vertical flange of the; bar 3L tightly against said spacers; The horizontal flange ofthe bar 31 is, positioned above thetop edge: oi, the; plate 25, andxis: recessed to span the foot of the;

T-bars 21.. The flanges; of the sidebars may be recessed to permit the passage of the vertical flange oi the bar 31, or. this flange:v may be bentto', ass said. flanges 2.0. Openings 34 are provi ed in the plates through which the rivets; pass, saidopen- ,ings being .of greater dimensions than said bolts, "so that said bolts; will not interfere with the free expansion of the: plate 25 when occasionidemandsz, In order: to permit; a

Heretofore, for many years past, many expedientshave been used for arresting downward movement of the'upper door section IO-before it reaches a point materially below the meeting of the two door sections under normal. conditions; In: the: door of my present invention, I secure this result by merely welding, or otherwise securing to the guide rail l5, abloclr36 arranged in the path of movementrofthe; lower shoe 14 upon the upperdoor sectionl't). Thisaconstruction involves the addition, otlnoparts: tothe: door section itsel fi and may benread'ily and accu-i ra-tel-y' applied to:- the guide! raih in the shop so as to entail no additional labor in the erectionv of the elevator doorinstallation. The block 362 is duplicated upon opposite sides ofthedoori a I have shown a lock 38 carried. by the upper door section and engageable with the lower door 'sectiomthis lock' being of a type commonly used in counterbalanced elevator doors.

Whiliean elevator door embodying the invention isvery much heavier than; doors-hay sheathed wooden panel, it. very much greater durability, and frequentrep airsare;

unnecessary" since the strength. inherent to; the panels 25, and the great, rigidity int-- parted to; the door": by" these panels and: the" manner of mounting smiley-twill minimizelikelihood of damage to the panels on to other partsaof: the door by blowsthereon:

ing aficorrugated" metal panel orQa metal from loaded or unloaded trucks. the door 'closingis the same as with other types of:

vertically moving counterbalanced, or semi,

or full, automatic doors, and while I have described the invention as applied to doors in which the sections have vertical moveinentin the same plane,.1t is apparent that the: constructionherein described is applica ble to so-called pass-type doors and various types of c'ounterweighted'doors, and isalso:

applicable to doors having only one section known as one-piece upwardly or'downwardly' movable doors. Under normal conditions of use, the metal plate panels 25 lapping the-flanges 19. of the angle metal frame 18, and the head ofthe T-bar2l' extending fromone of these flanges I p '1 tion to the 'arec sesdetails of construction to theother: upon theupper and lower bars of the section respectively,-icompletely close theopening in the door aswell asthe openings"28,=throngh which the bolts-26 pass,-at' one side of the panel, the flanged nuts.27

panehthe shaft side. i 4

closing said openings at the other side of the 'llheT-bars 21 serve as vertical braces for the upper and lower bars of-the door sectlon, I and impart great rigldityto the door struc-v ture. The extended ends of the foot'22of the T-bar are formed by cuttin'gaway the head of this bar, thus permitting. the op posi te ends of this head to formxa butt joint with the edges of the flanges 19 of the top and bottom bars of the door section.

The fusible metal sleeve 29 or the heat destructiblewasher 35, at'normal temperatures will cause the bolts 26 and nuts 27 to firmly hold the panels 25 in positionand againstrattling; In the event of-flre, however, said sleeves or said: washers will be disintegrated,

thus affording sulficient-clearance aboutthe bolts passing through the openings 28 to al-, low expansion of the plates 25, theifri cti'onal resistance between the nuts 27 and said plates being insufficient to resist the expansion force developed by the plates 25. w

The trucking feature or the" utilization of thetop bar'of the lower door section for supporting loads passing between an elevator car and the floor of a building, is, required only with thick doors and is not applicable to light corrugated metal panel doors.

With the form of construction shown,

' however, notwithstanding 'that the oanelsset wellwithin the shaft edge of the flanges 20,

the truck bar 31 affords effective reinforcement to-the projecting flange of-the top-- bar of the frame of the door, and by-reason of the resistance to a tilting action of the bar,

bythe spacers 33, prevents possible spring-- ing of the top bar through loads 'upon this projecting flange. The

for the expansion of said plate. 7 a 2. Anelevator door embodyingthereln an angle Inetalfraine, one flange of which ex relation. of the spacers to the*panels-25,the clearance afforded between the horizontal flange of the'tiucli 7 bar 31' and the upperedges of said panels,

in the event of fire.

The utilization of the stop 36 co-operating with the lower shoes 14, affords'an (if? 'fective stoptlimi'ting the downward movement of" the upper door section 10, the use of a small unbendable block of metal forming practically an integral part of the guide rail I structure, and ;the close sliding fit "of the shoes with the guide rail precluding any possibility of the escape of the door to a point below said stops either by the bending of the stops themselvesor of a metal partof the frame, structure ofl the door co-operating I therewith: i p a v i It is not my'intentionto limit the invenherein shown and described-,it being apparent that suchmay be varied. without departing from the spirit and'scope of the invention.

Having described the invfention' what I claim as new and desire to have protected by i Letters Patent, is

1. An elevator door embodying'therein an angleu-metal frame, one flange of which extends substantially parallelwith the wall of anelevator shaft, and the other flange of which extends inwardly .of the shaft,av flat metal plate closing the opening in said frame, and ha-vlng dimensions to space the edges thereof away from said inwardly ex- "tending flange, and bolt openings about the edges thereof, bolts :of smaller dimensions than StlCl openings passing through the flange of saidiframeparallel with the wall and through said openings, and heat clestructible means interposed between said boltsandsaid panel adjacent said openings, whereby, at normaltemperatures, said bolts will'hold said plate' firmly in relationto said frame, and with the destructionof said heat destructible means clearancewill be afforded tends substantially;parallel witlrthe wall of an elevator shaft. and the other flange of which extends inwardly of'theshaft, a flat metal rplateclosing the. opening in said I frame, and having dimensions to space the edgesthereof away from slaid lnwa-rdly ex: tending flange, and bolt openings aboutthe lUU edges thereof, bolts of smaller dimensions than I said. .openingspassing through the flange of saidframe parallel withthe wall and through said openings, heat destructable means interposed. between, said bolts and saidpanel adjacent said openings, whereby, at normal, temperatures, said bolts will hold said plate firmly in relation to said frames, and with thedestruction of said frame extending parallel with the -wall, spacers engaging said vertlcal'fiang'e, heat heat destructible means, clearance will be :aflorded for the expansion of said plate, vertically extending guides, shoes, 1up0n-sa1d frame co-soperating with said, guides, an angle bar, the horizontal flange of which iswin engaging relation. with "the flange oi the top bar of the angle metal frame extending .in-

wardly of the shaft, and the vertical flange of whichextends substantially parallel with the flange of the. top bar of the angle metal destructible washers between said spacers and said metal platepand meansengaging the vertlcal fiange of said bar and the flange of said frame parallel therewith, and passing through said spacers and openings in-said plate, said openings being of larger dimen- -sionsthan said means, whereby with the dis integration of said "heat destructible washers, clearance will. be afforded for the expansion of said plate with relationnto saidspaeer andsaid'angle bar.- I

' v *3. An elevator'door embodying therein an angle :metal frame, one flange of which tends substantially parallel with the wall of an elevator shaft and the other flange ot whichex tends inwardly of the shaft, a T-barr extending between thetop and the bottom bars =of-said 'frameand connectedtherewith 1 3 respectively, whereby said frame is divided into a plurality of panel openings, a: fiat metal plate" closing each opening in said frame, the dimensions of each of said plates being such as to space the edges thereofawaywfrom said inwardly extending (flange and said T-bar, each of said plates having bolt openings about the. edges thereofibolts of smaller dimensions than said openings passing through theflange of said frame parallel with -'the wall, through said T-i'f bar and through" said openings, -heat destructiblemeans interposed between said bolts andsaid panel adjacentsaid openings, whereby, at normaltemperaturedysaid bolts 'will hold said plate firmly in relation and ' to said frame, and with thedestructionof said #heat destructible imeans clearance will be afforded for the expansion ofisaid-plate. 4. An elevator'id-oor embodying therein an frame which "extend siibstantially parallel withjthewall of theshaft, the'foo't of said T-ba'rf-having its opposite ends turned to' bear upon the other flange of the 'top and bottom bars and secured thereto, whereby said frame is divided into a plu ra-lity of the. edges thereof away from said: inwardly extending flange and saidIT-baneach of said plates having bolt openings about the edges thereof, bolts of smaller dimensions than :said openingspassing through the flange of said iramegpaiallel with the wall, through said T -bar and through said openings, and heat Jdestru-ctible means-interposed between said bolts and said paneladjacentsaid: openings whereby, at normal temperatures, said 'bolt's will hold said plate firmly in relation to saidvframe, and with the destruction, of said heat destructible means clearance, will be aflorded for the expansion of said plate,

5. Anielevator door-embodying thereinan angle metal iirame,"-onefiange ofwhiehextends s ubstantial ly parallel with 1 the: wall of an elevator sh aft-and the other flange:-'of

which extends inwardlv of the shaft, a "T- divided into a plurality of panel openings,

atlat metal plate closing each: openingwin saidgtramey the dimensions of each of said plates being such as to space the-edgesthero- 10f awayv from said inwardly extending flange and said T bar, each o'fasaidplates having bolt openings about the edges thereoLxbolts ofisrnaller' dimensions than said openings passing-through the flange of said frame parallel with thefwalhthrough said T-bar and through said openings, heat destructible means. interposed between said bolts and said :panel" adgacent, said openings, whereby, at normal temperatures, said M bolts ,w1ll; hold saidfplateifirmly in. relation as said frame, and with the destruction of said heatdestnuctiblei means clearance will be] afforded for .ithe expansion of said plate, vertically extending :guides,%shoes upon said frame co- :operating with said guides, an angle bar,

theihorizontal flangeof which is in engaging relation:with'the flange, ofthe top barofthe :angle metal frame, extending inwardly, of the shaft, and the vertical flange of which -extends@s'ubstantially parallel with the flange of the top bar, of the angle metal frame ex- ;panel openings, a, flat metall plate closing i each Op111llg,,ll'l saidirame, the dmiens ons of each of said plates being such as to space bar extending between the'top and the bot I tomzbars' of said frameand connected there- Wit-ll respectively," whereby [said frameis" tendingwparallel withithe wall, spacers engagingraid vertical flange, .heat destructilo'le washers betweensaid spacers and said metal pl ate, and-means engaging the vertical flange 'o'f sai d bar andtlle fiange of said frame parallelfltherewith, and passing through .said spacers and open ngs in .said plate, 'ssaid openings-being of larger dnnensionsthan said means, whereby with the disintegrationof said heat destructible washers, clearance will be: afforded for the expansion of said plate witlrrelation to said spacers and said angle'bar. a

6. In anwelevatori door, Fthe i with vertically extending guide rails upon opposite sides of door openings in an elevator shaft, of a plurality of oppositely movable sections, flexible connections between said sections, a sheave adjacent, the top of the'upper door section about which said connections pass, each of said door sections embodying therein an angle metal frameyone flange of which extends substantially parallel with the wall of an elevator shaft, and the otherflange of which extends inwardly of the shaft, guide shoes upon the opposite side bars of each of said frames straddling said guide rails respectively, a fiat metal plate closing-the opening in said frame,.and having dimensions to space the edges thereof away from said inwardly extending flange.

and bolt openings about theedgesthereof,

bolts of smaller dimensions than said openings passing through the flange of the frame parallel with the wall and through said openings, andv heat destructible means interposed between said bolts and said panel adjacent said openings, whereby, at normal temperadimensions than tures, said bolts will hold said plate firmly in relation to said frame, and with the destruction of said heat destructible, means clearance will be afforded forthe expansion of said plate. I i

' 7. In an elevator door, the combination with vertically extending guide rails upon opposite sides of door openings in an elevatorshaft, of a plurality of oppositely movable sections, flexible connections between said sections, a sheave adjacent the top of the upper door section about which said connec- V tions pass, each of said door sections em bodying therein an angle metal frame, one

flange of which extends substantially parallel withthe wall of an elevator shaft, and the other flange of which extends inwardly of the shaft, guide shoes upon the opposite ,side bars of each of said framesstraddling said guide rails respectively, a T -bar extending between the top and the bottom bars of said" frame and connected therewith re-t spectively, whereby said frame is divided into a plurality of panel openings, a flat metal plate closing each opening'in said frame, the dimensions of each of said plates being such as to space the edges thereof away from said inwardly extending flange and said T- bar, each of said plates having bolt openings about the edges thereof, bolts of smaller said openings passing through'the flange of said frame parallel with the wall, through said T-bar and through said openings, and heat destructible means interposed between said bolts and said panel adjacent said openings, whereby, at normal temperatures, said bolts will hold said platefirmly in relation to said frame,

, and with the destruction of said heat destructible means clearance will be afforded for theexpansion of said plate.

tor shaft, of a able sections,

nections pass, each of said door sections .em-

bodying therein an angle metal frame, one flange of which extends substantially par,- allel with the wall of an elevator shaft, and the otherflange of which extends inwardly of the shaft, guide shoes upon the opposite side bars of each'of said frames straddling said guide rails respectively, a T-bar extending between the top and the bottom bars of said frame and connected therewith respectively, whereby said frame-is divided into a plurality of panel openings, a flat metal'plate closing each opening in saidframe, the dimensions of each of said plates being such as to space the edges thereof away from said inwardly extending flange and said IT-bar,

each of said plates having bolt openings about the edges-thereof, bolts of smaller dimensions than said openings passing, through theflange of said frameparallel with the wall, through vsaid T-bar and through said o] )en in'gs,. heat destructible means interposedbetween said bolts and said panel adjacent said openings, whereby, at

normal temperatures, said bolts' will hold said plate firmly in relation to said frame, and with thedestruction. of said heat destructible means clearance will be afforded for the expansion of said plate, an angle bar, the horiz'ontal'flange ofwhich'is in ent "gaging relation with the flange of the top bar of the angle metal frame of the lower door section extending inwardly of the a shaft, and-the vertical flange ofrwhich extends substantially parallel with the flange of the top bar of the angle metal frame extending parallelwith the wall, spacers engaging saidvertical flange, and means engagingthe vertical flanges ofsaid bar and flange of said frame parallel ,therewith, and

passing through said'spacers and openings in said plate.

9. In an elevator door, the combination with vertically extending guide rails upon opposite sides of door openingsin an elevator shaft, of a plurality of oppositely movable sections, flexible connections between said sections, a sheave adjacent the top of the upper door section about which said connections pass, each of said door sections em- :bodying therein an angle metal frame, one

flange of which extends substantially parallel ,with the wall of an elevator shaft, and the other flange of which extends inwardly of the shaft, guide shoes upon the opposite side bars of each of said frames straddling said guide rails respectively, a T-har extending between the; top and, the bottom bars of 'said frame and connected therewith respectively, whereby said frame is divided into a plurality of panel openings, a flat metal plate closing each opening in said frame, the dimensions of each of said plates being such as to space the edges thereof away from said inwardly extending flange and said T-bar, each of said plates having bolt openings about the edges thereof, bolts of smaller dimensions than said openings passing through the flange of said frame parallel with the wall, through said T-bar and through said openings, heat destructible means interposed between said bolts and said panel adjacent said openings, whereby, at normal temperatures, said bolts will hold said plate firmly in relation to said frame, and with the destruction of said heat destructible means clearance will be afforded for the expansion of said plate, an angle bar, the horizontal flange of which is in engaging relation with the flange of the top bar of the angle metal frame of the lower door section extending inwardly of the shaft, and the vertical flange of which extends substantially parallel with the flange of the top bar of the angle metal frame extending parallel with the wall, spacers engaging said vertical flange, heat destructible washers between said spacers and said metal plate, and means engaging the vertical flange of said bar and the flange of said frame paralleltherewith, and passing through said spacers and openings in said plate, said openings being of larger dimensions than said means, whereby with the disintegration of said heat destructible washers, clearance will be afiorded for the expansion of said plate with relation to said spacers and said angle bar.

10. In an elevator door, the combination with vertically extending guide rails upon opposite sides of door openings in an elevator shaft, of a plurality of oppositely movable sections, flexible connections between said sections, a sheave adjacent the top of the upper door section about which said connections pass, each of said door sections 7 embodying therein an angle metal frame, one flange of which extends substantially parallel with the wall of an elevator shaft, and the other flange of which extends inwardly of the shaft, upper and lower guide shoes upon the opposite side bars of each of said frames straddling said guide rails respectively, metal blocks permanently secured to said guide rails adjacent the meeting point of said door sections, and in the path of movement of the lower guide shoes upon the upper door section, whereby substantial movement of said upper door section below the normal meeting point of said door sections is prevented, a flat metal plate closing the opening in said frame, and having dimensions to space the edges thereof away from said inwardly extending flange, and bolt openings about the edges thereof,

bolts of smaller dimensions than said openings assing through the flange of said frame para el with the wall and through said openings, and heat destructible means interposed between said bolts and said panel adjacent said openings, whereby, at normal temperatures, said bolts will hold said plate firmly in relation to said frame, and with the destruction of said heat destructible means clearance will be afforded for the expansion of said plate.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature this 15thday of J une, 1926. CHARLES W. PEELLE. 

